Knitting machine



Dec. 31,1935. H. KUEHNEL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jul 6, 1933 INVENTOR HENRY KUEHNEL BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application July 6, 1933, Serial No. 679,253

22 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines of the links and links type and more particularly to automatic power purl stitch machines, and has for its main object to improve the construction and operation of knitting machines of this character and to provide improved means for holding,

back the needle jacks when the needle plates are being shogged.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan of a portion of a links and links knitting machine, including parts of the needle plates, carriage, and rails of the frame, and showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the plunger housing mounted on the carriage;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Figure 3; p

Figure 5 is an elevation partly in' section of the slide block and metal tape or band in idle position; and 7 V Figure 6 is a detail of the beveled forward end of the metal tape or band.

In the links and links knitting machine, or automatic power purl stitch machine shown in Figure 1, the carriage 9 reciprocates along rails I0, passing over needle plates 1 and 8. These plates have needle grooves l l and I2 as shown in 30 Figure 2, in which are mounted needles [3 and i4 operated by needle jacks l5 and I6. The usual gibs H are provided to hold down the needles and jacks, the jack butts 18 being operated by the carriage cams for the knitting operation.

According to the present invention, a metal tape or band 20 is adapted to engage the jack butts l8, to hold back the needles in the plate 1 while the plates are being racked or shogged, and thus prevent the needles l3 from projecting into the throat and fouling the needles M in the shogging operation.

The band 20 has one end wound around and,

secured to a pulley or drum 2| keyed on a shaft 22 suitably journaled on the knitting machine frame. A smaller pulley 23 is keyed on the same shaft, and a chain or cord 24 is secured to and wound around the pulley 23, a weight'25 being The front or leading end of the the block 26 is tapered or beveled at 28 as shown in Figure 6.

The pulley 23 is of smaller diameter than the pulley 2|, because the band 20 travels the length of the carriage stroke, while the travel of weight 5 24 is limited by the height of the shaft 22 above the floor. When the band is free, the weight 25 holds the block 26 against a stop 23 secured to a plate 36 attached to the knitting machine frame.

A guide 3| for the band 20 is also secured to the 10 plate 36 adjacent to the stop 29.

A plunger 33 is slidably mounted in a housing or bracket 34 secured to the carriage 9, and a roller 35 is journaled on a shaft 36 fixed to the plunger and extending therefrom out through 15 a slot 31 in the bracket 34. This roller 35 is adapted to be actuated by a cam 38 which operates in a slot 39 in the plate 30, being actuated by a system of levers 40 operated by the pattern chain of the machine.

- In operation the carriage 9 reciprocates back and forth during the usual knitting operations.

At the end of each stroke of the carriage 9, the roller 35 rides up on the cam 38, raising the plunger 33 and preventing it from engaging the recess 21. 7

When the pattern chain is about to move into position for racking or shogging the needle bed, the pattern chain moves the cam 38 down, permitting the plunger 33 to engage the recess 21. 3 On the return stroke of the carriage, the plunger 33 carries the slide block 26 with it across the machine, and the metal tape or band 20 follows, being unwound from the drum 2|. During this movement the cord 24 is wound up on the pulley 23, thus raising the weight 25.

The long bevel 28 of the leading edge of the band shown in Figure 6, engages the jacks and cams them inward slowly. This avoids the jacks being snapped too far back, as might happen 40 with a bevel which is too, short. Preferably the. actual movement of the jacks is slight, and of the order of one thirty-second of an inch, as the essential purpose or function is toprevent the needles from extending forward. This prevents the needles engaged by the jacks from being moved out into the space between the beds and interfering with the opposite bed during shogm 'When the plunger 33 has carried the block 26 along the full carriage stroke, and the band 20' following the same has passed over all the needle jacks in the needle bed or plate I, either needle plate I or 8 may be shogged while the steel band 20 holds back the jacks I5.

On the return movement of the carriage 9 to ward the drum 2|, the weight 25 unwinds the cord 24 from the pulley 23, and winds up the flexible tape 20 on the pulley 2|. Just before the carriage stroke is completed the pattern chain movement raises the cam surface 38 by the lever 453, and when the roller 35 engages the cam 38 it rides up on the same, lifting the plunger 33 clear of the recess 2? so as to disengage the block 26. Thus the carriage is free once more-to reciprocate back and forth for the knitting operations without carrying the band with it, until shogging is again necessary.

It should be noted that the flexible metal band or retaining member 20 according to the present invention is entirely out of the way when no shogging is taking place, leaving the needle bed clear of any obstructions.

The invention embraces such modifications of the disclosed embodiment as fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of the other plate during the shogging operation, and means for moving said means longitudinally clear of said needle plate after the shogging operation.

2. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of the other plate during the shogging operation comprising a flexible metal band in combination with means for bending said band and moving it along its bend after the shogging operation.

3. In a. knitting machine of the links and links type having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of the other plate during the shogging operation, comprising a flexible metal band, and means for retracting and winding up said band after said shogging operation.

4. In a knitting machine of the links and links type, having needle plates adapted to be racked orshogged, said plates having needle grooves and jacks thereinwith butts projecting therefrom, in combination with a beveled member, means for moving said beveled member along the jack butts of one plate to move them slowly in succession in a direction away from the other plate, and means following said beveled member for retaining said jack butts in the position to which they were moved by said beveled member.

5. In a knitting machine of the links and links type, needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged and having a row of jack butts, a retaining member, means for moving said retaining member progressively along said row of jack butts into engagement therewith, and means for returning said retaining member regressively along said row of jack butts out of engagement therewith.

6. In a links and links knitting machine, a carriage, needle plates adapted to be racked or shoggedand having jack butts, in combination with a retaining member, means on the carriage for engaging said retainingmernber and moving it into engagement with said jack butts, and

means for releasingsaid retaining member after said needle plates have been racked or shogged.

7.; In-an automatic; power purlstitch knitting machine having a carriage, and needle, plates adapted to be racked or shogged, needles and jacks in grooves in said plates, in combination with a flexible band on a drum, and means on said carriage for drawing said band from said drum across one of said needle plates in engagement 6 with the jack butts thereof.

8. In an automatic power purl stitch knitting machine having a carriage, and needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, needles and jacks in grooves in said plates, in combination 10 with a flexible metal band wound on a drum at one end of the machine, and means on said carriage for engaging one end of said band and unwinding said band from said drum and drawing it across one of said needle plates in engagel5 ment With the jack butts thereof, and means for releasing said means near the end of the return stroke of the carriage.

9. In an automatic power purl stitch knitting machine having a carriage and needle plates 20 adapted to be racked or shogged, needles and jacks therefor in grooves in said plates, in combination with a flexible metal band wound on a drum at one end of the machine, the free end of said band being beveled, a slide block secured 25 to said free end and provided with a recess, a stop mounted on the machine frame near the path of said band, means for winding up said band on said. drum to bring said block into engagement with said stop, a plunger slidably mounted on said carriage, a roller on said plunger, a cam in the path of said roller, and means for actuating said cam in response to the pattern mechanism to release said plunger to enter said recess, whereby upon the forward stroke of said as carriage said plunger carries said slide block and said band with it, the said beveled leading edge camming the jack butts inward slowly in succession, said band thereby holding the needles of one plate clear of the other to permit the 4; plates to be shogged without interference of the needles.

10. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, a retaining member, means for mov- 45; ing said retaining member in a path extending from one end of one needle plate therealong to the other end for holding the needles thereof clear of the needles of the other plate during the racking or shogging operation, and means for re- 50, turning said retaining member clear of said needle plate after the shogging operation.

11. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, a fiexible metal band, means for hold- 55 mg a portion of said band in bent position, and means for straightening said portion and drawing said band into engagement with the needles of one plate to hold them clear of the needles of the other plate during the shogging operation. 0

12. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having a carriage, and needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, in combination with a retaining member, and means on said carriage for engaging oneend of said retaining member and as drawing it along therewith for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of'the other plate during the shogging operation.

13. In a knitting machine of the links and lin type having needle plates adapted to'be racked or 70 shogged, means for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of the other plate during the racking orshogging operation, and means for winding up saidmeans clear of said needle plate after the, racking or shogging operation. 75.1.

14. In a knitting machine having needle jacks, a flexible metal band adapted to engage the needle jacks and having a tapered end, and a slide block secured to said tapered end for leading said band into engagement with said jacks.

15. In a knitting machine, having a carriage and needle jacks, a flexible metal band wound upon a drum, and adapted to engage the needle jacks when unwound and means for connecting the free end of said band to the carriage of the machine to be unwound thereby.

16. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having a carriage and needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, and needles in grooves in said plates having jack butts, in combination with a retaining member, and means for connecting one end of said member to said carriage whereby upon the forward stroke said carriage carries said retaining member with it, into engagement with said jack butts.

17. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having a carriage, needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, and needles in said grooves having jack butts, in combination with a retaining member, means for connecting one end of. said retaining member to said carriage, means for actuating said connecting means in response to the pattern mechanism, whereby upon the forward stroke said carriage draws said retaining member into successive engagement with said jack butts to hold the needles of one plate clear of the other to permit the plates to be racked r shogged without interference of the needles.

18. In a knitting machine of the links and links type having a carriage, needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged and needles in grooves in said plates having jack butts, in combination with a retaining member having a beveled end, means for connecting said end to said carriage whereby upon the forward stroke said carriage carries said member with it, the beveled leading edge camming the jack butts inwardly slowly in succession, said member thereby holding the needles of one plate clear of the other to permit 5 the plates to be racked or shogged without interference of the needles.

19. In a knitting machine having needle plates adapted to be shogged, means for holding the needles of one plate clear of the needles of. the 'other during shogging and means for moving said means longitudinally away from said plate after shogging. V

20. In a knitting machine having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding back the needles of one plate during the shogging operation, and means for moving said means out of the space above said needle plate after the shogging operation to leave said space unobstructed by said means for access to said plate.

21. In a knitting machine having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding back the needles of one plate during the shogging operation, and means outside of the confines of the vertical projection of said plate for supporting said means after the shogging operation.

22. In a knitting machine having needle plates adapted to be racked or shogged, means for holding back the needles of one plate during the shogging operation, means outside of the confines of the vertical projection of said plate for supporting said means, and means for moving said holding means out of the space above said needle plate after the shogging operation to leave said space unobstructed by said means for access to said plate.

HENRY KUEHNEL. 

